SCHOOL OF THE TROOPER,
OF THE PLATOON,
OF THE SQUADRON, AND THE EVOLU-
TIONS OF A REGIMENT.

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PART
I .................................DISMOUNTED
PART II .....................................MOUNTED
PART III .....EVOLUTIONS OF A REGIMENT

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PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT.

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WASHINGTON:GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

1864.

WAR DEPARTMENT,February 10, 1841.

The system of Cavalry Tactics, adapted
to the organization of Dragoon regiments, having been approved by
the President of the United States, is now published for the
government of the said service.

Accordingly, instruction in the same
will be given after the method pointed out therein; and all
additions to, or departures from the exercises and manoeuvres laid
down in this system, are positively forbidden.

ARTICLE I. - Formation of a regiment of
five squadrons in order of battle (or in line) ... 1

Posts of officers and non-commissioned
officers of the field and staff of a regiment in order of battle ... 2
Posts of the officers and non-commissioned
officers of a squadron in line ... 3
Posts of officers and non-commissioned
officers of a company acting singly.. 4
Assembly of a regiment
mounted ... 4
Assembly of a regiment
dismounted ... 5
Formation of the escort of
the standard ... 5
Reception of the standard ... 6
Salute with the standard ... 7
Salute with the sabre ... 7

ARTICLE II. - Formation of a regiment
of five squadrons in column ... 8

Order in column by twos or fours ... 8
Order in column of platoons ... 9
Order in column of divisions ... 11
Order in close column ... 11
Compliments by cavalry under review ... 12
Form and course of inspection. ... 15

ART. III. - Duties of instructors
... 17

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

ART. IV. - Division, order, and
progression of instruction - - - 18

ART. V. - Gradation of instruction - - -
20

Recruits - - - 20

Recapitulation of the time
necessary to instruct a trooper to the school of the platoon mounted - - - 21

Corporals - - - 22

Sergeants - - - 22

Officers - - - 23

ART. VI. - Instruction to
mount without saddle, to pack up, to saddle, and to unsaddle- - - 23

Position of the trooper before mounting ... 148
To mount ... 149
Position of the trooper mounted.. 151
Eyes right, eyes left ... 152
To lengthen the reins of the snaffle ... 152
To shorten the reins of the snaffle ... 153
To cross the reins in the left hand ... 153
To take the reins in both hands ... 154
To cross the reins in the right hand ... 154
The use of the reins ... 154
The use of the legs ... 155
The effect of the reins and legs combined ... 155
To march ... 155
To halt ... 156
To turn to the right and to the left ... 157
To turn about to the right and to the left ... 157
To make a quarter-turn to the right and to the left ... 158
To rein back and to cease reining back ... 158

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

1st
Part - Continued

To
dismount ...159
To file off ...161

2d Part. - To march to the right hand; to march to the left hand ... 162

To turn to the right and
to the left in marching ...163
To halt and to step off ...163
To pass from the walk to the trot, and from the trot to the walk ...163
Changes of hand ... 164
To cross the reins alternately in the two hands, and to separate them in
marching ... 165
To turn to the right and to the left by trooper, in marching ... 166
To turn about to the right and to the left by trooper, in marching on the same
line ... 166
To turn about to the right and to the left by trooper, in marching in column
... 167

SECOND LESSON... 169

1st Part. -
Of the spur ... 171

To march
to the right hand, or to the left hand ...172
To pass from the walk to the trot, and from the trot to the walk ...173
Change of direction in the breadth of the riding house ...173
Change of direction in the length of the riding house ...174
Change of direction diagonally ...174
Change of direction obliquely by trooper ... 175
To march in a circle ... 176
To change hand on the circle ... 177

2d Part.
- Length of the stirrup ... 178

Position
of the foot in the stirrup ... 179
To turn to the right or to the left by trooper, in marching ... 179
To turn-about to the right or to the left, the troopers marching on the same
line ... 180

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

2nd
Part - Continued

To
turn-about to the right or to the left, the troopers marching in column ...
180